Here I am, 30 weeks into my pregnancy and feeling mighty darn good about my bump. After all, just last week a stranger — who also happens to be an OB — had validated my confidence by guessing exactly how far along I was just by looking at me. Well, thanks lady! It made my day that she thought I looked exactly like what I needed to look like at 29 weeks along.
Parents & Kids
New mothers learn how to protect their new arrivals from sudden infant death syndrome. But when it actually comes to implementing those safety practices while in a sleepy stupor, that's when dangers arise. So researchers developed a "mobile health program" delivering safety reminders – when they needed to be seen – which helped moms keep their newborns safer.
Athletes classified as "moderately specialized" were found to be at a 50 percent greater risk, while those "who had a high specialization classification had an 85% higher incidence" of lower extremity injuries.
The Glucose Screening Test is performed between weeks 26 and 28. Pregnant women are tested to see how their body is able to absorb high levels of glucose. The catch? Drinking 10 ounces of a nasty juice before the blood is drawn — find out if Ana Dolaskie passed!
Although some observational studies have suggested that vitamin D can help prevent upper respiratory ailments in adults, no such data substantiates that claim for children. A new study that compared low- and high-dose vitamin D with respect to such problems in kids found no effect at either level. Sorry, parents!
Although his reports on the spurious connections between vaccines and autism have been roundly refuted and his "research" report retracted, Andrew Wakefield's poison continues to harm children. In Minnesota, the continuing outbreak of measles in a Somali community is the latest case in point.
Of all the fads to cling to, let's not jump on this bandwagon. And especially when scientific bodies, and a government agency like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warn you not to.
A new study shows that responsible gun ownership can reduce the loss of life among children.
You may have met someone – a child or adult – who was instantly friendly and inquisitive. But soon after, you felt this extrovert's interaction may have crossed normal social boundaries. It's possible you spoke with someone afflicted with Williams syndrome, a behavioral disorder that can produce both joyful and heartbreaking results.
Pregnancy means letting go of some of your favorite things — temporarily. As she wraps up her fifth month of pregnancy, here's what ACSH's Ana Dolaskie says she misses most. Hint: It rhymes with "shmeer."
Although most images of sleeping babies are cute, all too frequently they portray an unsafe sleeping environment containing pillows, stuffed animals, blankets – with the babies placed stomach down. All of this sends the wrong message to new parents. But a new educational campaign from the New York City Department of Health is trying to correct this problem.
The meme that "natural is safe" can get you into trouble in many ways. It's one that's appropriate at this time of year, when gardens and flowers are on our minds, since some plants are naturally deadly. Here are a few commonly found in our gardens and often available from nurseries, as well.